Anti-gay doctor, MP in pre-selection fight

A doctor opposed to gay marriage is challenging Queensland state MP John McVeigh to become the Liberal National Party's candidate for the federal seat of Groom.

The party has confirmed outspoken GP David van Gend and Toowoomba South MP Mr McVeigh are both vying to be pre-selected for the seat vacated by Ian MacFarlane.

Mr McVeigh's father Tom was the MP for Groom and Darling Downs for 12 years in the 1970s and 1980s.

But Mr McVeigh, a Queensland MP since 2012, will have to fend off a pre-selection challenge from Dr van Gend and win the safe LNP seat to follow in his father's footsteps.

Dr van Gend is no stranger from the limelight, having made headlines for his stance on same-sex marriage.

Last year he called for a fairer debate on marriage equality after his Toowoomba medical practice was vandalised with the word "bigot".

He describes himself on Twitter as a "combatant on matters of life & death: euthanasia, cloning, abortion, gay 'marriage', faith & freedom".

His recent tweets include "Aussies have to choose between children's rights or gay adult claims" and "Two man marriage? Which Prime Minister will apologise to the 'motherless generation'?"

He also runs a blog called "Matters of Life & Death", which features posts condemning gay marriage, cloning and abortion.

LNP members in the Groom electorate will meet on April 9 to decide whether Dr van Gend or Mr McVeigh will run for the seat at the upcoming federal election.

The party also announced six people are vying for pre-selection in the Sunshine Coast seat of Fisher, vacated by Mal Brough, with a decision to be made on April 17.

They are scientist and business owner Theresa Craig, construction contractor Con Hughes, former ministerial adviser Ben Murphy, former Sunshine Coast deputy mayor Chris Thompson, barrister Andrew Wallace and retailer Roz White.